The panel outlined its recommendations to the Central Otago District Council yesterday, saying it was important for the panel to lead and give its views on an appropriate pathway for more effective and fair representation in the district.
Although the council adopted the panel's review yesterday, it has yet to debate the matter. That will take place at a workshop with a proposal on representation being considered at the council's August meeting.
"My reaction [to your recommendations] is wow ... but in a good way," Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper told the panel.
"Thank you for coming up with such logical and well-based arguments."
He said it would be "interesting to see if your baby survives the political process."
Panel chairwoman Gill Naylor, of Becks, said the exercise was thought-provoking and she hoped councillors would consider the recommendations with open minds.
Only 1% of the electors in the district had expressed their views on the topic, either by sending in a submission or attending a series of meetings held earlier in the year, she said.
Retaining the status quo was by far the preferred option among those who offered feedback.
The panel had nine recommendations.
The first was that councillors should be elected at large, instead of the current ward-based system. That would give greater potential for a wider cross-section of people on the council and would also reduce parochialism.
It suggested the number be reduced to eight, instead of the current 10.
Although it recommended the community boards be retained for the present, it suggested the powers delegated to boards be reviewed by the council, with a view to more issues being dealt with at council level.
Remuneration to community boards would have to decrease along with the decline in responsibilities, the panel said.
Boards should consist of four elected members with two councillors appointed to each board.
Panel member Rory Gollop said there had been "a drift" of authority away from boards to the council and that should continue.
Major issues could be effectively and cost-effectively dealt with by the council.
Local groups across the district seemed better-placed than boards to serve the needs of the community, and the need for community boards should be reconsidered in six years, he said.
Cr Martin McPherson was concerned the panel might have been "captured by one or two squeaky wheels".
"Less than 1% of the population have spoken to this, the majority of submissions are to maintain the status quo, but you've chosen to ignore that."
Cr Gordon Stewart said he had never seen "group-voting" on issues and believed parochialism was confined to the district's rugby fields and netball courts, rather than around the council table.
Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie commended the panel for "making a hard call" and being brave enough to come up with its series of proposals.
